How comfortable is Donald Trump with authoritarian regimes? Rosa Brooks and Nayyera Haq has this exchange on AM Joy this morning.

“He’s like them, but sort of dumber,” Brooksa said.

“And I think the Saudis have absolutely got his number. I see the Saudis are given him a gold medal just for showing up. I think they figured out how to butter Donald Trump up: Give him a little gold star, treat him like royalty, nod and look respectful, and he’s eating out of their hands.

“That’s not really good for the rest of the world, but it’s great for the Saudis. And he obviously has no discomfort whatsoever with authoritarianism.”

Haq responded, “And let’s be clear, with also, a win for donald trump in this situation, of getting along with autocratic leaders is not necessarily a win for the United States.

“The idea that they said they’re not going to be moralizing to these countries — moralizing about values such as freedom of press, human rights, and freedom for women, that is — those are the values the United States should be espousing. It should not be the values of how can we get the best business deal for a particular family.”

Fox host Ainsley Earhardt didn’t just eulogize Roger Ailes, she all but suggested he should be memorialized on Mt. Rushmore.

I do not like to speak ill of the dead and I do sympathize with the Ailes loyalists who have been reeling for almost a year since his ouster in the wake of sexual harassment allegations. Who could not feel for Fox News’ Janice Dean as she sobbed on air after the news of Ailes’ death was announced, then explained his kindness after diagnosis of multiple sclerosis?

Much speculation on AM Joy this morning about how the Trump circus will play overseas. Malcolm Nance is looking on the bright side.

“What we’re seeing is the United States being seen by the rest of the world as the clown show,” he said.

“I think, on the other hand, the reason it’s less dangerous than six weeks ago is because they also see the brilliant checks and balances put into place, coming into motion, and feel the president will be given guardrails he’s never had before.”

Nayyera Haq, former State Department spokesperson during the Obama administration, was less optimistic.

“As somebody who has spoken from the State Department, you have Jim Comey, his testimony imminent.” she said. “We found out he will testify before the public hearings. He declined an invitation to do so before the Judiciary Committee in private.”

Reid agreed, and ticked off the potential pitfalls.

“Your european allies know that, Nayyera. on the plane with Donald Trump are some of the people who helped build this circus atmosphere, the Steve Bannons of the world. Jared Kushner, who is the president’s son-in-law, who has his own issue whether he filed his foreign paperwork for basically being an agent of foreign clients. Stephen Miller, who had a lot to do with Muslim ban,” Reid said.

Last night, Bill Maher and Cornel West got into a shouting match on Real Time over West saying Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were “equally awful.”

West insisted that Bernie Sanders could have won the election, and took a shot at Clinton after Maher pointed out that one of the former Secretary of State’s first speeches as a candidate was about mass incarceration that disproportionately affects young black men.

“Hillary gave speeches about a whole lot of stuff, but it didn’t have a whole lot of integrity in it, brother,” West said.

Maher called that “bullshit.”

West admitted Clinton was better than Trump, but said, “Who isn’t better than Trump?”

If you’re wondering why your crazy Uncle Liberty (h/t Driftglass) still believes Trump is the Greatest President Ever, here’s what life looks like inside of the right-wing bubble.

Over in GOP-TV land, otherwise known as Pravda Fox “news,” the problem is not Trump or his administration’s behavior. Nope. It’s the evil non-existent “liberal media’s” fault for reporting on all of the scandals.

How dare they let the public know what’s going on? Here are some of the headlines for the last couple of days over on Fox’s blog, Fox News Insider:

Trump’s hypocrisy and stupidity was evident the moment he stepped on Saudi soil. The hypocrisy is obvious enough, but the hand gesture is open to debate. According to some sources for business etiquette, the thumbs up gesture literally means “up yours”, or that you wish to sodomize someone with your thumb. The bullet list below is from the U.S. Embassy, and that’s what they recommended to him as well. Apparently, Trump didn’t get their memo, or just ignored it.

“I hope that former Director Comey’s testimony will help answer some of the questions that have arisen since Director Comey was so suddenly dismissed by the President,” Warner said in the same statement. “I also expect that Director Comey will be able to shed light on issues critical to this Committee’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.”

It’s Friday. The Mrs. and I are attending a fancy suit & tie soiree tonight. After that, things will get really jumpin’ & hoppin’. I might even declare myself the king of the moon for the evening simply because someone has to.